Sabtu, 07 April 2012

On School DisciplineBeing on time is a beautiful socialethic and one of great importance, as itcreates effi ciency in systems and impliesrespect for one another. However, it isone of the many values that a schoolmust inculcate into its students overtime.Discipline is not something thatmust be slapped onto a child likehandcuffs.Inner discipline, one that comesfrom within due to an understandingof the set rules and regulations, isthe highest form of behaviour. Mostexcellent schools try to instill this witha loving environment.Why, even adults arrive lateto meetings, work, etc–admittedlyshamefaced. Here, we are talking aboutchildren.Latecomers should not be shut out.They can be given warnings, most ofwhich are enough to make them wantto reach school on time. If this fails, talkto the parents.By closing its gates, the school isbehaving cruelly and coldly–treatmentto which we prefer not to expose ourchildren.Every school has a responsibility toimplement educational concepts in theappropriate context, not just those schools
that follow international standards andare generally unaffordable for themajority.Good schools create competitivestudents who can organise themselveseffectively in society so that everyonegets a quality life as a result of ethicsand values imbibed into students foras long as 12 years.Children are precious, and aredependent on adults for guidance andwe must not take advantage of this.Understanding them is the key, and tothis end, both parents and schools mustwork hand in hand without playing theblame game.Taken from The Jakarta Post, October 30, 2003